The Future is Bright for Chicago White Sox Shortstop Colson Montgomery: A Journey of Consistency and Growth
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Colson Montgomery, the Chicago White Sox shortstop, is gearing up for another season with a singular focus: consistency. Despite a stellar rookie year in 2025, where he hit 21 home runs in 71 games, Montgomery remains grounded in his approach, driven by a desire to prove himself both to the league and to himself.
"I'm still trying to prove myself -- to the league and to myself by showing up every day and being the best person and player I can be," Montgomery said at Camelback Ranch. "I have a lot of great coaches and teammates who help bring that out of me. I'm excited about the journey ahead."
Montgomery's dedication to improvement is evident in his early arrival at spring training, where he's been working on fundamentals like secondary leads on the bases. His goal for 2026 is clear: "Just consistently getting better, putting in my work and preparation, and learning the game," he said. "The more I watch and learn, the more I feel like I get better."
The 24-year-old's 2025 season was a rollercoaster. He started strong, but a pause in late April for individual swing work at the organization's Arizona facility in Triple-A Charlotte was a turning point. After returning, he made his way to the big leagues, where he hit 21 home runs and 55 RBIs with a .239/.311/.529 slash line. This journey, however, didn't come without challenges.
"(2025) didn’t start off the best or exactly where you wanted to be," Montgomery said. "Sometimes that’s just what happens. I had a great support system with my family and the front office with the White Sox. They believed in me and never doubted me. The Arizona trip was about refining our approach, not doubting."
Manager Will Venable echoed this sentiment, praising Montgomery's growth: "Colson had a great year last year. He’s still working to be a complete hitter and just continue to progress and develop. We expect him to make good decisions at the plate and build on his power."
Montgomery's offensive prowess is evident in his numbers. All 21 of his home runs came in the second half, as did 53 of his 55 RBIs. He ranked fifth in home runs and third in RBIs after the 2025 All-Star break, showcasing his ability to adapt and perform under pressure.
Assistant General Manager Josh Barfield highlighted Montgomery's all-around game: "From an offensive standpoint, his ability to make adjustments on the fly, coming out of the Triple-A season and then having success at the big leagues, is impressive. Typically, guys struggle when they get to the big leagues, but Colson hit the ground running and never looked back."
Barfield also noted Montgomery's steady defense, which often gets overlooked due to his offensive success: "He played really good defense at short, which is incredibly hard to do. Now, it’s about continuing to build consistency on the defensive side."
Despite his impressive 2025 season, Montgomery remains grounded, knowing that his best days are yet to come. "Colson went through last year, and it was a great year," Venable said. "But there’s still room for growth."
As Montgomery looks ahead to 2026, he's poised to continue his journey of consistency and growth, solidifying his place as one of the brightest prospects in baseball.
